The Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute assessed a litter of three panther kittens in Southwest Florida.
FWC says they used a GPS collar to track an adult female panther to her den site. Once the arrived, biologists waited for the mother to leave to hunt before quickly locating the kittens and beginning their work.
Assessments are conducted when kittens are between 2-4 weeks old.
Each kitten is sexed, weighed, dewormed, microchipped and has a biopsy sample taken for genetic assessment.
Over the past 32 years, FWC's team of researchers has sampled 524 kittens.
The data from the assessments provides information on litter size, sex ratio, den site selection and more.
The survival rate for Florida panther kittens to make it one year is low, at a staggering 32%.
FWC confirmed that last week two of the kittens were predated by another carnivore which they believe to either be a bear or a panther. Only one kitten remains.
Anyone can support panther research and conservation via donations to the Florida Panther Fund via the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida .
DOWNLOAD the free NBC2 News app for your latest news and weather alerts.